Dare County has issued a mandatory evacuation order for all visitors on Hatteras Island due to a power outage on North Carolina's Outer Banks.

The evacuation order becomes effective Saturday at 6 a.m. It includes the villages of Rodanthe, Waves, Salvo, Avon, Buxton, Frisco and Hatteras.

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An estimated 10,000 tourists on Ocracoke Island were ordered to evacuate on Thursday. Hyde County public information officer Donnie Shumate says the main concern was for the safety of visitors. Officials say no one will be allowed onto the island unless they can prove residency.

Hatteras and Ocracoke Islands went dark on Thursday when a construction company building a new bridge between two islands drove a steel casing into an underground transmission line.

The state Department of Transportation said Friday that two 90,000 pound generators have been loaded onto a ferry bound for Ocracoke Island. The goal is to restore temporary power to much of the island Friday evening.

The state has scheduled regular fuel deliveries for the generators on daily ferry departures.

The Cape Hatteras Electric Cooperative is supplying temporary power to Hatteras Island through portable generators and a diesel generating plant.

The Dare County Water Department issued a water conservation alert for Hatteras Island customers. Residents and visitors are asked to conserve as much water as possible because water production capacity is diminished due to the power outage. There are no concerns about the quality of water being provided - it is safe to drink.